The Chrisitian is called to exercise continuous vigilance over his choices in life. It's a responsibility we must not take lightly.

Paul is the best-known advocate of such constant vigilance: "There let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall" (1 Cor. 10.12). "Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise" (Eph. 5.15). "Keep a close watch on yourself" (1 Timothy 4.16). He's not alone in giving such exhortations. Solomon, Jesus, and the other apostles offer similar instructions and warnings.

There's a good reason why we need to be continuously vigilant. Research is accumulating which shows that the more we are faced with temptation, indeed, with any decisions, the weaker our ability becomes to make good choices. John Tierney, science columnist for The New York Times, explains the phenomenon of "decision fatigue" in the August 21, 2011 issue of that paper ("Do You Suffer From Decision Fatigue?").

A variety of scientific studies are now demonstrating that the more we are faced with having to make choices and decisions, the more quickly we tire of the process of thinking things through, and simply make whatever decision occurs to us at the moment.

Mr. Tierney explains that decision fatigue is perhaps to blame for some of the patently foolish choices made by corporate heads, lawmakers, and other high-visibility public officials, and, doubtless, by the rest of us as well. Having worn themselves out on daily decisions, they could not - or chose not to - resist what anyone who would have given it a second thought would agree was a dumb choice.

Mr. Tierney writes, "Once you're mentally depleted, you become reluctant to make trade-offs, which involve a particularly advanced and taxing form of decision making...You become what researchers call a cognitive miser, hoarding your energy. If you're shopping, you're liable to look at only one dimension, like price: just give me the cheapest." We stop thinking clearly and just want to get on with it.

He explains, "Today we feel overwhelmed because there are so many choices. Your body may have dutifully arrived to work on time, but your mind can escape at any instant." Research suggests that being barraged throughout the day with decisions and temptations can deplete the mental energy required for making good decisions, leaving us feeling and looking stupid at times.

We're not aware, or at best, barely mindful, of most of the decisions we have to make each day. But they wear on us anyway. And if we're not vigilant when real temptations arise, we may not have the strength of heart and mind to resist. We may fail, as Paul might say, to "overcome evil with good."

Paul's solution to avoiding the pitfalls of decision fatigue was to discipline our minds to focus on Christ: "Set your mind on the things that are above, where Christ is seated" (Col. 3.1, 2). Training our minds to see the world through the mind of Christ and the realm of unseen things, and disciplining our hearts to desire this realm above all else, can help to establish values, priorities, and default choices in our souls, so that when temptations confront us, no matter how many decisions we may have faced that day, we will be able to recognize the threat and respond accordingly - overcoming evil with good.

So pay attention to what's going on around you. Don't think so highly of yourself that you become convinced you could never commit a heinous sin. And be daily renewed in mind, heart, and conscience. The spiritual strength which Christ supplies by His indwelling Spirit is the best antidote to decision fatigue.

But we must discipline ourselves to seek and submit to that indwelling power.

Related texts: Psalm 119.9-11; Proverbs 4.20-27; Ephesians 4.17-24

A conversation starter: "How do you fight the effects of decision fatigue, so that you don't make stupid choices?"

T. M. Moore, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.